Norman E. Olson
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Captain Norman E. Olson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Norman E. Olson |
| Born | March 19, 1915 Winnipeg, Canada |
| Died | April 8, 1944 (aged 29) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | U.S. Army Air Force |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | |
| Awards | |
| Spouse(s) | Frances[2] |
Norman E. Olson (March 19, 1915 – April 8, 1944) was a U.S. Army Air Forces World War II flying ace. He shot down seven[2] enemy aircraft in the European theatre of World War II. Olson died in aerial combat on April 8, 1944.[3][4] He was the first Ace pilot of the 355th Fighter Group.[5]
He was born in Winnipeg, Canada and lived in Fargo, North Dakota. He graduated from Fargo High School. He spent two years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin attending Marquette university.[6] Before moving to Fargo, Olson spent time as a commercial photographer in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In 1941 Olson enlisted in the United States Army.[2]
Career
Olson enlisted in the Army in 1941 and was stationed in Europe in 1943.[6] Olson was flying a P-47 when he destroyed an enemy aircraft Bf 109 in aerial combat over Siegen on February 20, 1944.[7] Olson and his unit were returning from a mission over a Nazi airdome Brunswick, Germany, when Olson was shot down by ground fire. The other fighters in Olson's unit only made one pass, but Olson made three.[2]
Awards
- Air Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- Congressional Gold Medal (2015)[1]
- Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement[N 1]
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign
- Army Presidential Unit Citation
- Purple Heart
- United States Aviator Badge Army
- World War II Victory Medal